Fu Manchu: 30th Anniversary Tour (Los Angeles, 2022)
Fu Manchu at the Troubadour (Dec 3, 2022)
The Troubadour is one of my favorite venues to see live shows at in Los Angeles. It’s easy to get to, in a cool area that sits between West Hollywood and Beverly Hills and is one of the most historic musical spots in the country. So, I’m always down to make the drive to a show just to get a high from being at the venue. Seeing Fu Manchu there was a no brainer. A 90s hard rock band that’s like a mix of stoner rock and groove metal? Count me in!
I ended up arriving at the venue right at when the doors opened around eight. After blowing chunks on the toilet all day, I was worried that I would have another episode in the bathroom when I arrived. But it was only gas, thank you Jesus! Since I arrived so early, I decided to sit in the bar room and order a Miller Lite as a gazed at the numerous rock memorabilia on the wall. Bands like System of a Down, The Chili Peppers, Guns and Roses, and more have played at this home of rock history and the Troubadour has no problem showing it off with posters and signed 10 inches that decorate the bar.
After sipping two beers and a whiskey on the rocks, I headed into the main stage room to watch Harshmellow, the opener, perform their set. Unlike Turnstile’s opener a few weeks back, Harshmellow was a heavy enough set that was an appropriate warm up for when Fu Manchu came on. I quickly made my way to the front of the stage where I stood next to a couple in their late 60s dressed like it was 1972.
The lights dimmed and Fu Manchu came on in all their glory. These guys also dressed like it was the 1970s, wearing OP band clothing and surf style that a 13-year-old might have worn during the decade. All (but the bassist) sporting hairdos down to their backs, Fu Manchu opened to the heaviest song I have ever heard live. Maybe the sound techs at the Troubadour accidently cracking up the speakers but it was like my face was being melted off. It was that loud. My whole body vibrated as the long-haired band started banging their heads to the song. And everyone in the audience went nuts. Even that couple in their 60s, the wife started screaming and tearing her shirt off like she was at a Zepp concert in the 70s. I couldn’t help but get into the action, banging my head and grabbing the shoulder of the husband of this old couple. Fu Manchu immediately played three more songs after the opener that were just as heavy. The lead vocalist, Scott Hill, growled and yelled through the mic as guitarist Bob Balch ripped a searing riff before going into a spacey solo that made my ears fall off my head. It was so heavy. So psychedelic, It was like watching Helmet and Black Sabbath have a baby. It was beautiful. The band played some of their classics like “Evil Eye” and new ones like “Strange Plan”. One of the high points was the bands ultra-heavy cover of Rush’s “Working Man”. And you best believe that woman in her 60s went bananas. She even licked Balch’s guitar while he was doing a solo on the song! It was a night I will never forget, being able to see such a talented band that played classic, fun heavy rock at a top-notch venue. And even though some of the original members of Fu Manchu are pushing 60, they sound just as good as they did when they were kids in the 90s. Make sure to see these guys live if you have a chance! They kick some serious, heavy butt!